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Mobilizing Early Management of Mental Health Complications After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Interventions
Other: Generic information about concussion management
Other: Guideline implementation tool
Registration Number
NCT04704037
Lead Sponsor
University of British Columbia
Brief Summary

Mental health problems frequently complicate recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) but are under-recognized and under-treated. Our research program aims to identify evidence-based strategies for closing this knowledge-practice gap. Building on a successful pilot trial, the reseachers will evaluate the effectiveness of a clinical practice guideline implementation tool designed to support proactive management of mental health complications after mTBI in primary care.

Detailed Description

Goal: To determine if a clinical practice guideline implementation tool, designed to support proactive management of mental health complications, can improve clinical outcomes from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Background: Up to 1 in 4 people who sustain an mTBI develop depression or an anxiety disorder within the first 3 months. Mental health problems triple the risk of long-term disability after mTBI. However, mental health disorders after mTBI are under-detected and under-treated. Canadian clinical practice guidelines for mTBI developed by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF) recommend that family physicians proactively screen and initiate treatment for mental health disorders.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of an implementation intervention designed to facilitate timely detection and treatment of mental health complications in primary care.

Approach: Triple-blinded (treatment provider, patient, assessor) cluster randomized controlled trial with two arms. The intervention involves collecting screening test results from patients and a complex intervention with two components: sharing the screening test results in an actionable format with their family physician and activating patients for the clinical encounter with the family physician by sharing education materials about mental health problems and treatment options after mTBI. The comparison group is usual care.

Hypotheses: The researchers hypothesize that the guideline implementation tool will be associated with lower rates of mental health complications at 26 weeks post-injury, compared to usual care.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
537
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 18-69 years old,
  • presentation to emergency department within 72 hours of injury,
  • probable mTBI diagnosis per emergency department chart review and interview based on World Health Organization Neurotrauma Task Force diagnostic criteria,
  • fluent in English,
  • primary residence in British Columbia,
  • designate a specific family physician or walk-in clinic where they plan to seek follow-up care
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pre-existing unstable/serious medical condition (e.g., cancer, multiple sclerosis, etc.)
  • Pre-existing unstable/severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia requiring hospital admission in past year)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Arm 1: Minimally enhanced usual careGeneric information about concussion managementSee intervention/treatment description
Arm 2: Guideline implementation toolGuideline implementation toolSee intervention/treatment description
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
MINI version 7.0.2 for DSM-526 weeks post injury

Structured diagnostic interview

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 12-item version12 and 26 week post injury

Standardized interview

Rivermead Postconcussion Symptom Questionnaire2, 12, 26 weeks post injury

Standardized questionnaire

Trial Locations

Locations (9)

Urgent and Primary Care Center: North Vancouver

🇨🇦

North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

University Hospital of Northern British Columbia

🇨🇦

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

Lion's Gate Hosital

🇨🇦

North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Richmond Hospital

🇨🇦

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver General Hospital

🇨🇦

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Mount Saint Joseph's Hospital

🇨🇦

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

University of British Columbia Hospital

🇨🇦

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

St. Paul's Hospital

🇨🇦

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Urgent and Primary Care Center: City Center

🇨🇦

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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